One of the world’s most famous bridges, the Ponte Vecchio in Florence, Italy, is also one of the city’s most popular destinations. From ancient Roman times to today, the bridge has served as a means of passage between the northern and southern banks of the Arno River, as well a thriving commercial center. Today the 14th century bridge is lined with gold shops, carrying on a tradition born five centuries ago when goldsmiths were installed on the bridge by Duke Cosimo I de’ Medici. Buona visita!